A lost chapter in the history of a Raphael drawing

We are delighted to present a powerful sixteenth-century drawing, convincingly attributed to Jacopo Zanguidi, called Bertoja (Parme, 1544 - 1574), after Raphael’s celebrated Combat of Five Men. Executed in pen and brown ink with brown wash, this imposing sheet interprets the composition of the red chalk drawing preserved in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford.

Its significance extends far beyond its visual qualities. An early inscription provides compelling evidence of a previously unknown provenance for Raphael’s original drawing. As Professor David Ekserdjian has recognised, the inscription strongly suggests that the Oxford sheet once belonged to Arcangelo Spagna, placing it in a collection earlier than its previously recorded provenance with Wicar. Unless another sanguine of the same composition existed, this is a substantial addition to the known history of Raphael’s drawing. We warmly thank Professor Ekserdjian for his decisive contribution to understanding this evidence.

This Private Viewing invites you to discover a work whose appeal lies both in the energy of its draughtsmanship and in its ability to restore a missing chapter in the history of the masterpiece that inspired it.

Expertise - French
Expertise - English